Holder for cards, pictures, and the like.



J. M. WASHBURN.

HOLDER FOR CARDS, PICTURES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLIUATIOH FILED JUNE 17, 19l l. I

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

Jnzw tLQZnessear JAMES MURRAY WASHBURIL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HOLDER FOR CARDs PlCTUREs, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

Application filed June 17. 1911. Serial No. 633,856.

useful Improvement in Holders for Cards,v

Pictures, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to holders for sustaining cards, pictures and the like in a-substantially upright position for exhibition, or

other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a holder formed of sheet metal and consisting of two members, a holding member and a base member having a slidable connection with the holding member to vary the effective base length of the holder. This makes it possible to support cards or pictures of different heights with the proper amount of stability. The greater the height of the supported article the farther back from the point of sup ort at the front does the center of gravity 0 the article fall, so that a greater base length must be had in order to secure a stable support for the article.

Broadly considered my invention com prises a sheet metal holder for cards, pictures and the like, provided with a holdingportion at the front for receiving and sustaining the desired article in substantially upright position, and a horizontally extensible base portion.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which show'two forms of holder embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing-how my new form of holder supports a picture or-cards, the latter being partly broken away so as to show the holder in full; Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of holder; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the sheet metal blank from which the holding member shown in Fi 4 is formed;

Referring firsttto the orm shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the holder consists of a holding member designated, as a whole by A and a base member designated, as a whole, by B. The holding member is formed out of sheet metal and comprises a horizontal body section 1 from which themetal is bent upwardly and forwardly at 2 then downwardly and forwardly at 3 and upwardly to form the lip 4. The portions 2', 3 and4 of the holding member A may broadly be referred to as the holding portion of the hold-' ing member for receiving and sustaining the desired article in upright position. The longitudinal edges of the body section 1 are turned inwardly to form the flanges 5.

The base member B consists of a body section 6 which is provided at the rear end with a downwardly turned flange 7 to form the rear bearing point of the holder. The body portion 6 of the base member B is arranged to engage at its sides between the flanges 5 of the holding member, the en gagement being sufiiciently loose to permit ready adjustment of the base member with respect to the holding member. By simply "drawing the base member in or out the effective base length of the holder is shortened or lengthened as desired.

Suitable means may be provided for holding the base member in its adjusted position. The simple'means which I have provided for this purpose consists of a series of openings 8 in the basemember and a depressed button 9 on the holding member A in alinement with the openings 8. When an opening comes into register with the depressed button 9, the latter enters the opening and .thereby frictionally locks the base member in adjusted position. The locking engagement is, of course, yieldable and the base member may be slid in or out by the use of very little force. when in position on the holder, en ages the upturned lip 4 at its lower front e ge, while on the reverse side the card or picture engages or leans against the portion 3 of the holding member. The front bearing point of the holder is at 10 and the rear bearing point at 11. The intervening metal of the holder does not touch the support on which the holder rests. As the metal is rounded at the bearing points 10 and 11 there is no danger of the base or support on which the holder stands being scratched up or disfigured by any projecting metal of the holder.

It will be observed that the above construction, light and simple as it is, forms an exceedingly stable holder for such articles as cards, pictures and the like.

As the body sections of the members A and B incline downwardly toward the front.

The card or picture P as clearly shown in Fig. 3, it would be necessary to first swing the holder upwardly about the rear bearing flange 7 to bring the body sections of the members A and B into exact horizontal position, before there would be any danger of the holder upsetting backwardly under the weight of the supported article.

The modification shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive varies from the form above described only-in the formation of the holding portion. In this modification the holder A is formed of a sheet of metal blank having a body section 12, side flanges 13, an extension comprising the portions 14, 15 and 16, and a tongue 17. The portion 14 is provided with a slot or opening 18. In the formation of the holding member A the flanges are formed by bending the metal downwardly along the dotted lines 19 and then inwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. From the wardly along the'line 21. At the line 22 the metal is bent forwardly over the body portion 12 until the shoulders 23, formed at the base -of the tongue, engage the base of the extension at each side of the slot 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 4E. .The tongue 17 i is then turned upwardly to. form a lip; against which the lower front edge of the 1 Supported article is adapted to rest. provides a particularly rigid holding portion for the holder, because any forward push against the upturned tongue or lip 17 by the article in the holder, causes the shoulders 23 to abut against the base bf the extension and prevent distortion or Weakening of the parts due to the strain placed upon them. Furthermore, the downwardly and rearwardly extending portion 15 of the holding member forms a rigid stay or brace for the supported article. In this respect the form of holder shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, has a decided advantage over the holder shown in Figs. 1- 2 and 3.

The base member B of the holder shown in Figs. 4, 5' and 6 is substantially the same in construction as that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and no further description thereof is, therefore, thought to be necessary. It will be observed from .Fig. 5 that the front bearing points of the holder is at 24 and the rear bearing point at 25 on the flange 7 of the base member B. The depressed button 9 formed on the holding member A cooperates with the openings 8' in base member B to frictionally hold the latter in its adjusted position. The members A and B of both forms. of holder shown are readily stamped out of sheet metal and bent into proper form by machiner so that the cost of manufacture is war sight.

0 prevent the supported card or picture This as by a cotter pin 27. The free end of the chain is provided with a hook 27, the sharp pointed end of which is adapted to be stuck into the back side of the card or picture. In this way the card or picture is firmly anchored to the rear of the holder and is prevented from being accidentally tipped over in a forward direction. Of course the chain 26 may be replaced by other suitable connecting devices as, for instance, a rod. But, because of its cheapness, lightness and flexibility, I prefer a chain to connect the icture with the rear of the holder, when it is found desirable to do this.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sheet metal holder for cards, pictures and the like, comprising a holding portion at the front for receiving and sustaining the desired article in substantially upright position, and a horizontally extensible base member, provided at its rear end with a tubular flange turned downwardly, the holder having only two bearing points one at the front of the holding portion and the other on'said tubular flange.

2. A sheet metal holder for cards, pictures and the like, comprising a holding member havin a horizontal body section and a slotted extension which terminates in a tongue, a pair of shoulders being formed at the base of the tongue, said extension being first bent upwardly and rearwardly from the body section, then downwardly and rearwardly, then forwardly over the body section, so that said shoulders abut against the base of the'extension at each side of the slot, said tongue passing through said slot and being bent downwardly and upwardly to form a lip for engaging the articles at the bottom front edge, while the slotted portion of the extension engages the rear side of the article, longitudinal flanges formed on said holding member, and a base member slidably en aging said flanges to vary the efi'ective ase length of the holder and having its rear end shaped into a roll.

3. A sheet metal holder for cards, pictures and the like, comprising a holding member having a horizontal body section and a slotted extension which terminates in a tongue,-said extension being first bent upwardly and rearwardly from the body section, then downward] and rearwardly, then forward over the b0 y section, said tongue passing through said slot and bein bent downwardly and u wardly to form a lip for engaging the artic es at the bottom front edge, while the slotted portion of the extension is adapted to engage the rear side of the article, longitudinal flanges formed on said holding member, and a base member slid ably engaging said flanges to vary the effective base length of the holder, said base member being at its rear end provided with a downwardly turned flange which forms the rear bearing point of theholder, said tongue formingthe front bearing point.

4. A sheet metal holder for cards, pictures and the like, comprising a holding member having a horizontal body section and a slotted extension which terminates in a tongue, a pair of shoulders being formed at the base of the tongue, said extension being first bent upwardly and rearwardly from the body section, then downwardly and rearwardly, then forwardly over the body section, so that said shoulders abut against the base of the extension at each side of the slot, said tongue passing through said slot and being bent downwardly and upwar ly to form a lip for engaging the articles at he bottom front edge, while the slotted portion of the extension is adapted to engage the rear side of the article, longitudinal flanges formed on said holding .member, a base member slidably engaging said flanges to vary the effective base length of the holder, said base member being at its rear end provided with a downwardly turned v flange which forms the rear bearing point of the holder, said tongue forming thefront bearing point, said base member having a series of openings or recesses, and a button formed on the body section of the holding member to enter said openings and frictionally hold the base member in its adjusted position.

5. A sheet metal holder for cards, pictures and the like, comprising a horizontal body section and a slotted extension which terminates in a tongue, a pair of shoulders being formed at the base of the tongue, said extension being first bent upwardly and rearwardly from" the body section, then downwardly and rearwardly, then forwardly over the body section, so that sald shoulders abut against the base of the extension at each side of the slot, said tongue passing through said slot and being bent downwardly and upwardly to form a lip for engaging the article at the bottom front edge, while the slotted portion of the extension is adapted to engage the reariside of the article.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of May A. D. 1911.

J AMES MURRAY WASHBURN. Witnesses:

A. A. THoMAs, M. H. DOOLEY. 

